How to Embellish a Hat Made From Polar Fleece

Polar fleece hats can be easily personalized at home.

Add a little personality to a polar fleece hat by embellishing it. The hat will be easy to identify in a sea of kid’s hats in the coat closet. You can use a variety of embellishments such as beads, jewels or embroidery to liven up a polar fleece hat. Boys can add dinosaur spikes or pompoms to their hats while girls can sew ribbons or fleece flowers to theirs. Let the little ones get involved and see what creative ideas they come up with.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Fabric marker
• Scissors
• Sewing machine (optional)
• 1 1/2-inch wide grosgrain or satin ribbon
• Fleece scraps in coordinating colors
• Contrasting thread
• Needle
• Jewels
• Fabric glue

Instructions

Ribbon Embellishment

1. Lay the hat flat. Measure 3 inches from one of the side seams with a ruler and mark a 2-inch line with your fabric marker. The line should be 1/4 inch above the edge of the hat. Measure 2 inches from your first line and make a second line. Repeat measuring 3 inches and then making two lines, 2 inches apart until you have marked all of the way around the hat.

2. Cut a slit on each of the 2-inch lines with the scissors. You can also sew button holes with your sewing machine on the lines. Use a seam ripper to open the button hole.

3. Thread the grosgrain ribbon through the slits. Leave a long tail at the beginning as you weave the ribbon in and out of the holes. Tie the ribbon at the side temple in a neat bow with 3-inch tails.

Flower Embellishment

1. Cut small, simple flower shapes out of coordinating scraps of polar fleece. The flowers should be about 2 inches tall.

2. Cut three to four flowers.

3. Hand-sew the flowers in a cluster to the side of the hat. Use a contrasting thread color and stitch in an “X” pattern in the middle of the flower to look like a stamen.

Animal Embellishments

1. Shape pieces of polar fleece with scissors to look like animal ears or features.

2. Place the hat on the child and determine the placement of the ears, spikes or other embellishments. Mark with a fabric marker.

3. Sew the fleece pieces in place with a needle and thread.

Jewel Embellishments

1. Lay the hat flat on your work surface.

2. Place flat-backed jewels on top of the hat. Arrange the jewels in a pattern.

3. Pick up a jewel; add a dot of fabric glue onto the back of it. Press down onto the polar fleece. Repeat for all jewels. Let the glue dry before wearing the hat.

References

• From an Igloo: Warm Winter Hat Pattern and Tutorial
• Made by Rae: Snow Blossom Hat Tutorial
• Fleece Fun: Basic Hat With Ribbon Tutorial